Rep. Cynthia Soto

Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits a State agency from entering into a contract subject to the Code with a business that boycotts Israel. Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Requires each of the 5 State-funded retirement systems (or the Illinois State Board of Investment where applicable) to make its best efforts to identify all companies that boycott Israel in which it has direct or indirect holdings and, under certain circumstances, to divest itself of holdings in those companies.

Amends the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State, in addition to county clerks, to institute an Internet-based system for the filing of statements of economic interests. Provides that all Internet-based systems for the filing of statements of economic interests shall set forth and provide a means of generating a printable receipt page acknowledging filing. Makes other changes to be consistent with the requirements of the amendatory Act. Effective July 1, 2015.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in a prosecution of criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse, the court may set any conditions it finds just and appropriate on the taking of testimony of a victim who is a child under the age of 18 years or a moderately, severely, or profoundly intellectually disabled person or a person affected by a developmental disability, including the use of a service or therapy animal that has been evaluated and registered according to national standards, in any proceeding involving that offense. Provides that when deciding whether to permit the child or person to testify with the assistance of a registered service or therapy animal, the court shall take into consideration the age of the child or the person, the interests of the child or the person, the rights of the parties to the litigation, and any other relevant factor that would facilitate the testimony by the child or the person.

Designates the month of June 2015 as Immigration Heritage Month in the State of Illinois.

Recognizes and supports the Children's Place Association in its efforts to serve those low-income children and families in need who are affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious medical conditions.

Provides for the ratification of the proposed equal rights amendment to the United States Constitution.

Creates the Endow Illinois Tax Credit Act and amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Requires the Department of Revenue to authorize an income tax credit to taxpayers who provide an endowment gift to a permanent endowment fund. Sets forth procedures and criteria for authorizing the credits. Provides that the aggregate amount of all credits that the Department may authorize may not exceed $10,000,000 in 2013, $25,000,000 in 2014, or $50,000,000 in 2015 and each calendar year thereafter. Provides conditions for eligibility. Requires the Department to make an annual report concerning the credits. Provides that the credit may be carried forward for 5 years. Exempts the credit from the Act's sunset provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title and applicability of the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997.

Amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the first $100 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for one child and the first $200 of child support collected on behalf of a family in a month for 2 or more children shall be passed through to the family and disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant provided to the family. Provides that any amount of child support that would be disregarded in determining the amount of the assistance grant shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for cash assistance. Effective immediately.